Latvia Flag

The Latvia flag consists of a maroon background with a single white stripe through the center.

Dr. Karlis Ulmanis, the last president before the Soviet invasion, describes the meaning of the Latvian flag this way, “White stands for right and truth, the honor of free citizens and trustworthiness. But the maroon/red reminds us of the blood that has been shed in the recent past. It has been shed at all times in the remote past and we are ready to offer it again for freedom and independence, for our nation and country."

The flag of Latvia was enacted on February 27, 1990. It previously was enacted from 1918 to 1940 when Latvia was an independent state. When the Soviet Union took over Latvia it banned the usage of Latvia’s flag. Latvia regained its independence on August 21, 1991 it brought back the previous flag that was flown. There are certain rules and guidelines to be followed when flying the flag. The flag Latvia is reported to date back to a military unit in 1279, which would make it one of the oldest national flags in the world. This flag can be flown both nationally and civilly by its citizens.

There are a few other flags. The first is the Presidential flag of Latvia. The second is the flag of the Prime Minister. The third and last flag is the one for the Minister of Defense.

In the thirteenth century, the Livonian Knights captured Latvia. The Russian defeat in the Livonian war left Latvia to be partitioned between Poland – Lithuania and Sweden. Czar Peter the Great received parts of Latvia in the Great Northern War that lasted between 1700 and 1721. All of Latvia fell under Russian rule during several other partitions of Poland in 1772, 1793, and 1795. In 1918 Latvia asserted its independence. During World War II Latvia was under German rule and then Soviet rule. Almost the entire Jewish population was eliminated during the Nazi Holocaust. In 1991, the Soviet Union granted Latvia’s independence. In 1993, Guntis Ulmanlis became Latvia’s first directly elected president. In 1996, Viara Vike Freiberga became the first woman head of state in post communist Eastern Europe.

Individuals who want more information about this flag can find any one of several websites that are available over the internet.